The Risk Management Tool Box Blog

Throughout January 2011 I've been running a series of posts about safety "one per-center's".

I've defined these as being the simple HSE actions that are easy to get right which really help to shape and define the HSE culture of an organization.

I've argued that if you aren't getting the "one per-center's" right, it probably means two things:

Firstly, you've probably got a shit-house safety culture (excuse my French); and

Secondly, you've got no realistic chance of managing HSE risk for the bigger issues you face because you can't even get the simple things going.

With those two points in mind, today I'm posting a full safety program of "one per center's" get going in your workplace in February. Some of the items will be done only once, or maybe twice, whilst others will need to be done everyday and sometimes several times each day. 

Most will require only a few minutes of effort and some require only a few seconds each day;

Below is your February "to do" list.

• Check housekeeping of walk-ways - are they all clear and neat and tidy?
• Do a fire extinguisher inspection - are they all "in service" and tagged compliant?
• Inspect fire doors and fire escape stairs;
• Inspect your First Aid boxes - up to date and restocked?
• If it's hot where  you are, make sure you apply "sun smart" behaviours;
• If it's cold where you are, make sure you're managing your cold-stress with appropriate actions;
• Inspect all ladders on your site;
• Check your vehicle maintenance records;
• Service your car if necessary;
• Drive defensively;
• Drink plenty of water each day;
• Use appropriate manual handling techniques;
• Offer assistance to someone;
• Check office electrical equipment and replace where needed;
• Practice Think 6, Look 6 to maintain your situational awareness;
• Avoid using your mobile phone when driving;
• Inspect lighting in your office environments - replace broken globes;
• Make sure to wear your hearing protection;
• Inspect your PPE - replace if unsuitable; and
• Buy a tool from the Risk Tool Box Shop.

The construction project for the LNG Plant at Prigorodnoye on Sakhalin Island in Russia was the biggest project of its type that I have worked on.

The project scale and the significance and size of the hazards associated with that project was simply amazing. 

Following on from last weeks blog and running over a few posts, I'll upload a few photographs that highlight the scale of work faced on the Russian Project.  It was a simply amazing experience and a great honour to work on the project.

Key hazards included:

• Natural hazards (particularly low ambient temperature in winter and high temperature in summer);
• Huge sources of kinetic energy including much movement potential in big equipment, pressurizefd equipment, road transportation, etc;
• Biological hazards (particularly mozzies but also bears, HIV and Hep C virus, etc);
• Psycho-social hazard associated with work crew being away from home for long periods;
• Hazardous substances (many types); and
• Electricity.

SEIC LNG Plant - A Very Big Construction Project

Natural hazard - very cold conditions


Kinetic Hazards - height potential and movement of equipment

DupOnt call it STOP and others call it Step Back, 5 X 5 or Take 5. 

Call it what you want, basic hazard spotting is the most important safety tool available in the risk management tool box.

Knowing how to spot hazards using the Think 6, Look 6 hazard and risk management process is the key skill required by the whole workforce.

Today's safety "one per-center" is to get out of the office and do some hazard spotting.

In qualitative risk assessment, risk is a subjective description of the likelihood of a hazard being uncontrollably released together with the magnitude and type of resulting consequences.

Risk "likelihood" values are typically assigned a score along a scale running from "rare", through "unlikely", "possible", "probable" and ending in "almost certain" outcomes. 

An "almost certain" likelihood value is typically described as follows:

"The hazard energy potential is high or extreme.  Lots of potential triggers exist and are identified.  The majority of expected industry standard controls are inadequate or missing.  There may even be deliberate negligent acts which endanger the activity or process hazard.  The combination of uncontrolled triggers, missing controls, high or extreme energy in the hazards and/or deliberate acts of negligence means the potential risk scenario will almost certainly occur.  The potential incident is clearly foreseeable given the power of the hazard, numbers and types of uncontrolled triggers and the limited level of control over the hazards". 

In qualitative risk assessment, risk is a subjective description of the likelihood of a hazard being uncontrollably released together with the magnitude of resulting consequences.

Risk "likelihood" values are typically assigned a score along a scale running from "rare", through "unlikely", "possible", "probable" and ending in "almost certain" outcomes. 

A "probable" likelihood value is typically described as follows:

"The hazard energy potential is high.  Lots of potential triggers exist and are identified.  The proposed controls are inadequate even if all are fully implemented.  Missing controls in combination with a break-down in implemented controls means the potential risk scenario will probably eventuate in most circumstances.  The potential incident is clearly foreseeable given the power of the hazard, numbers and types of triggers and the limited level of control over the hazards". 

Another easy and simple "one per-center" today.

Get out and do a walk around and inspect lighting in your workplace.

Look for broken or non-working lights and make sure to plan to get them fixed.

Kinetic hazards take two main forms.  Firstly is the energy associated with motion or the potential for motion.  Motion hazards are most commonly linked to mechanical energy but other forms of movement are hazards as well.

You will find this hazard in moving vehicles, slamming doors, sea-waves, flying aircraft, turning fan blades and suspended loads.  You will also find kinetic or potential energy hazards wherever you get stored or trapped pressure.

If the pressure is uncontrollably released, the pressurized energy will usually transform itself into movement (flying objects).  It will also often transform into noise (from the explosive release) and/or heat (if pressurized flammable gas ignites).  Forms of kinetic energy include:

• Motion energy (e.g., energy involved in moving a forklift). 

• The greater the mass and speed of an object the more kinetic energy is contained; and  

• Mechanical energy (e.g., the energy contained or created by turning gear cogs);  

• Potential energy (e.g., the energy “stored” in a suspended load).

   

Pressure is energy that is applied to or contained within a liquid or gas that is stored inside some kind of containment vessel (e.g., a gas cylinder).  Pressure energy can be found in:

• »            Pressure piping and hoses;
• »            Process equipment;
• »            Pressure control lines;
• »            Gas cylinders; and Hydraulic or pneumatic tools.

Today's safety "one-per-center" is the easiest ever - and just might make the biggest difference to your workplace.

We're not a charity so stop looking for free stuff on the net, get your wallet out, and buy something from our shop!

That way we'll be able to continue to post free stuff via the blog and we'll be able to keep feeding our kids as well!

Thanks in advance.

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In qualitative risk assessment, risk is a subjective description of the likelihood of a hazard being uncontrollably released together with the magnitude of resulting consequences.

Risk "likelihood" values are typically assigned a score along a scale running from "rare", through "unlikely", "possible", "probable" and ending in "almost certain" outcomes. 

A "possible" likelihood value is typically described as follows:

"The hazard energy potential is medium.  Lots of potential triggers exist and are identified.  The proposed controls are only just adequate to prevent the foreseeable risk scenario from developing if all are fully implemented.  A failure or break-down in any key control mechanism means the potential risk scenario could possibly occur.  The potential risk scenario is clearly foreseeable given the power of the hazard, numbers and types of triggers and the limited level of control over the hazards". 

A very short and simple "one per-center" today. 

Don't forget to wear your hearing protection in areas of your workplace prone to high noise levels.

There are really no excuses!